Worker for US defense contractor killed in Iraq as colleagues say they are pressured to stay
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- A Kenyan worker employed by US defense contractor V2X was killed in a drone attack on Erbil airbase on 24 March, with five others injured; workers allege the company prioritized mission continuation over employee safety.
- V2X has about 300 employees in Erbil, mainly American, Indian, and Kenyan, but unlike other contractors, it has not evacuated staff despite escalating security risks and repeated US embassy warnings.
- Employees report a culture of fear and hostility from management, with threats of job loss and blacklisting for those seeking voluntary evacuation amid inadequate security measures at their hotel accommodations.
- V2X allegedly downplays the security threat to avoid contract loss on a $252 million deal supporting Iraq’s F-16 program, while some senior managers have already evacuated, leaving lower-level staff feeling abandoned.
- Similar safety concerns exist at other Iraqi bases where V2X operates, with workers facing daily drone alerts and attacks, and previous evacuation attempts thwarted by Iraqi government pressure threatening contract termination.
